FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Professional Vacancy Announcement No: RAP-419-09-PRJ
Deadline For Application: 20 July 2009
Position Title Chief Technical Adviser (Subregional Food Security Programme)
Duty Station Bangkok, Thailand
Grade Level

P-5

Duration Fixed term - 12 months with possible extension subject to availability of funds
Organizational Unit Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the overall guidance and administrative leadership of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), the direct supervision of the Coordinator, RAPR and the technical guidance of the Director of the Agricultural Development Economics Division or the designated Lead Technical Unit Officer, and in close technical coordination with the RAP Economic and Social Department Group, the incumbent will:
  • Oversee the management, administration and implementation of the project, including the design of programme work plans and activities, and ensure the delivery of project results and the provision of technical assistance to national counterparts and their collaborators;
  • Coordinate and develop partnerships with multiple stakeholders at country and regional levels in complex political settings, FAO regional and country-level projects, including the Global EC/FAO Food Security Programme and the FAO Multi-Donor Partnership Programme on technical and policy issues;
  • Lead the development and application of methodologies for analysing the impacts of climate variability for food security and vulnerability assessment;
  • Conduct national and regional-level capacity building activities on market information analysis, agricultural disaster risk mitigation, and chronic food insecurity and vulnerability assessment;
  • Develop comprehensive national food security and vulnerability information systems in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar, and support food security information system initiatives in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
  • Directly advise high-level decision-makers in governments and regional organizations on the substantive design and implementation of multi-stakeholder information systems and on complex policy issues;
  • Organize activities to facilitate the uptake of improved methodologies by targeted beneficiaries and core food security analysts as well as the sharing of lessons and experiences gained amongst stakeholders;
  • Supervise the organization and implementation of regional and in-country workshops, expert consultations, and capacity building training;
  • Be responsible for all reports in line with FAO rules and procedures and prepare detailed project work plans, progress reports, a terminal report outlining project results, recommendations and impact, and other technical reports and publications as required;
  • Prepare TORs for consultants, contracts, partnership agreements, and Letters of Agreement with regional and national collaborators as required;
  • Supervise the project-funded staff including consultants, and ensure close collaboration and joint operations with the contracted partners;
  • Perform other related duties as required.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Candidates should meet the following:

  • Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, public policy analysis/administration, disaster management, environmental science, or a related field;
  • Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in food security and vulnerability assessment, transitory food security monitoring and early warning, and the development and management of food security information or vulnerability monitoring systems;
  • Working knowledge of English

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be assessed against the following:

  • Depth of knowledge of vulnerability assessment, food security and early warning methodologies;
  • Extent of experience in food security and vulnerability assessment, transitory food security monitoring and early warning, and the development and management of food security information or vulnerability monitoring systems;
  • Proven capacity to conduct advanced statistical analysis, geospatial data analysis, modeling and mapping, and information and knowledge sharing through web applications;
  • Extent of experience in project management with strong leadership, interpersonal, presentation and communication skills;
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing;
  • Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain effective work relationships with government and donor representatives, local and international experts, and people of different nationalities;
  • Extent of experience in working in the developing countries, preferably in the Southeast Asian region;
  • Extent of familiarity with FAO as a knowledge organization, its field programmes and procedures for project implementation.

Please note that all candidates should possess computer/word processing skills and should be capable of working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
* The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

TO APPLY: Carefully read and follow the Guidelines to applicants

Send your application to:

V.A RAP-419-09-PRJ
 Mr Mark Smulders, Senior Economist/FIVIMS Coordinator, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA), Economic and Social Development Department (ES)
FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY
Fax No: + 39 06 5705 3272
E-mail:  VA-419-09-PRJ-RAPR@fao.org

This vacancy is open to male and female candidates. Applications from qualified women candidates and applications from qualified candidates from non/under-represented member states are encouraged. Please note that FAO staff members are international civil servants subject to the authority of the Director-General and may be assigned to any activities or office of the organization.

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